Knitting and knitting machine



June 5, 1945. TOQNE ETAL 2,377,729

KNITTING LND KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 14, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet l nventors o'rney June 5, 1945. R. N. TOONE ETAL KNITTING AND KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 14, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 1945- R. N.'TCONE ETAL 2,377,.7 29

KNITTING AND KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 14, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 I FIG. /O.

L FIG/l; 5s 1} a KO. I6 I6 1 Inventors 2 y I ll 1| By 1% Jllme 5, 1945. R. N. TOONE ETAL 2,377,729

KNITTING AND KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 14, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. I2. H513- FIG/7 if). 1. M15221? yv v June 5, 1945. v R. TOONE ET AL I 2,377,729

KNITTING AND KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 14, 1943 G SheetS-Sheet 5 ii & 1 m- June 5, 1945. R, N, TOONE ET AL 2,377,729

KNITTING AND KNITTING MACHINE F'il ed Aug. 14, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 6 Attorney I 1 Patented J ne 5, 1945 KNITTING AND KNITTING MACHINE Ralph lylorman loone, Wollaton'Park, Notting- V ham, and Thomas Lawrence Allen, Nuthall, England,-assignors to B. Toone (Nottingham Limited,Nottingham,lzEngland l l a l Application August 14,1943, Serial No. 498,638 a In GreatBritain'May15,1942 j (once-134) l v 1 1'7v'Glaims. This invention is 'for improvements knitting, knitting machines, andknitted articles. It

is wellknownin the knitting art to introduce and withdraw threads during the processor knitting such threads may .for instance betsplicing, plating or patterning threads. In circular knitting machines a withdrawn thread will; lie as a lloose .Ior float thread along the inside of the fabric (normally ayknitted tuzbel until again ire-introduced. A thread or plurality thereof may .be introduced and withdrawn after the completion of o-ne or more courses or may be introduced and withdrawn during the production of asingle course or each of apluralityoi courses (successive or otherwise). i For many purposes such asistockings it is necessary or desirable to remove the float threads]; this involves an extra process after the articles havefbeen made with aconse:

guent increase in costof production and loss of material (the float threadslbeing waste lj. Witha view to .avoidingsuch increase in production cost and loss it has alreadybeen proposed to trap and i the article less sightlythan would otherwise be the case; furthermoreit is a distinction between goods produced on: circular .kn'itting niachines and those produced onstraightbar knitting machines which operates to thefldetriment of the former. a i l l i The principal object of the present invention is tc provide means Wherebythis disadvantage is overcome by so arranging matters, in anindein feeding an additional] thread and dr iringthe process of ,k-nitting the same severing it so that r all the thread extendingfrom the -point oiiseyerance to the needles is knitted Pin, and reintro ducing the sameor atdilferent thread with a free end extending beyond the point of introduc tion which free end is of such a length that the needles in descending to knit absorb or draw in suchlength andknit it, i l r In one method of, carrying the invention into efiect athread feeder is provided having means for severing the thread duringthe lprocess of knitting andior retaining and refintroduci'ng the severed end.; By the expression the severed end? is to be understoodthe end of thread extending from the supply to the pointer severance, and

bythe expression (hereinafter employed) loose asdistinct from the severed end, is all knitted end is to Abe understood thel co thread end that is attached to the rabric. 1 n

In the application of the invention to a circular knitting machine (O the type in which the plementary needles rotate relatively to the thread feeders, a feeder for an additional thread is provided together. with means for severing such thread during the process of knitting so that the looseend,

in, meansf-or anchoring the "severed end and means Torre-introducing suchend across the needle circleand for releasing such severed end so that on re-introduction the severed end is completelyknitted in and no loose threadsor floats aregtormed.

n The invention further includes a method of in-;

troducing a'yar-n to the needles of an independa ent needle knitting machine, in which the yarn end extending from the feeder is substantially pendent needleknittingmachine, that there is l no loose protruding end? of thread ;on the inte-. rior of the fabric either at the position of intro- ,duction or withdrawal of an additional thread or threads. The expression additional thread means and includes a splicing thread, plating thread or any thread which in the course or courses Whereat it is knitted is not the sole thread that is knitted The additional thread may be formed into knitted loops throughout the whole of its period of introduction or otherwise as desired. 7

With this obJ'ect in View the inven tio n consists equal to, or slightly greater than, the distance from thefeeder to the needleknocking-over point so that the'whole of the said end is knitted pin. The invention also includes the; knitted article produced. l r Reference WilllIlOW be made to the accompanyingdrawings, inlwhich 5 n p l Figures l and 2 show how a looseend of thread is knitted in, and i a r t i Figure Show a severed end isknitted in.

Figures 4 7 show, in 'sidefelevation, one mechanism according to its operation; l a Figure 8 is aplan of the t Figure 9 is a section through the trapper and cutter. i l a a Figure 10 is, a side elevation and Figure 11 a front elevation (looking from inside the needle thisinvention and illustrates eye of the feeder there circle) of another mechanism according to this invention.

Figures 12-15 are views, on a larger scale, illustrating the action;

third mechanism according to this invention and illustrate its action, while Figure 21 is a perspective view and Figures 22 and 23 are end views of the trapper and cutter therein.

Figures 24-27 are diagrams illustrating a fourth.

mechanism according to this invention.

Figures Y28 and 29 illustrate a fifth mechanism according to the invention. I

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, needles are indicated at In, sinkers at II, and the knocking over point at K. 0. It will be seen that the loose end of additional thread S is of such a length that in descending to the knocking over point the needles knit it all in. In producing this result, it is important that the thread is severed before being diverted from its normal path of feed to the needles, i. e. while it is'still running to the needles in correct knitting relationship, as contrasted with the usual method of first withdrawing the thread from the needles by displacing the feederandthen cutting said thread extending from the inoperative feeder; In Fig. 3, it will be seen that the length of the free end extending from the feeder I2 is substantially the same as the distance between said feeder and the knocking over point, and the length extending beyond the first needle IO'taking it is not substantially greater than that required for a knitted stitch, so that substantially all the thread is knitted in. I

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4-9, a feeder I2 for the additional thread S is provided and the arrangement is such that when such feeder I2 is in the feeding position the forward lower end thereof is located a, short distance outside the needle circle so that the thread is fed to the needles as'the needles in rotation pass the feeder., The thread passes downwardly at an angle from a guiding eye I3 and a tension device l4, through an eye I 5 formed in the feeder. This feeder eye I5 communicates with a slot I6 (Fig. 8) in the'side of the feeder I2 so that the thread can be introduced laterally through the slot I6 and thence to the feeder eyeI5. For this purpose; the mouth of the slot I6 extends up one side of the feeder I2, so that the thread can enter it laterally, and the slot (out completely through the thickness of the feeder from the top to the bottom thereof) then extends forwards to the eye I 5. The feeder is mounted for pivotal movement in a vertical plane and so thatthe forward feeding end can be moved in an arc upwardly away from the needles.

In the particular embodiment under discussion the feeder is substantially radial to the needle circle and is pivoted at I! near its outer end to a non-rotary part of the machine (which part may be a bracket I8 pivoted at I9 to the latch ring 35 so that all the mechanism carried by it may be elevated to an inoperative position) so that the feeding eye I5 may move up and down alongia curved path that is wholly exterior to the needle circle but is such that the eye, in

its lowered and operative position, is closely adjacent to the needles I0. At a position beyond its pivot H the feeder I2 is engaged by a lever 20 pivoted at 2| to bracket I8 and adapted to be actuated by a projection 22 on a common operating member in the'form of a thrust bar 23 which is operated in known manner by a drum, cam chain or other device. The position of the projection 22 on the thrust bar 23 is preferably adjustable andthe projection 22 is disposed a short distance below the upper end of the bar, such upper end being in contact with the one end of a second lever 24 pivoted at 25 to the bracket I 8, which lever 24 at its. opposite end is formed with a toothed rack or quadrant 26. The positionof said bracket I8 in relation to the needle circle is preferably adjustable, and to this end such fixed part is mounted on the machine standard. The arrangement is such that upon upward movement of the thrust bar 23, the quadrant lever 24-is moved a little while before the projection 22 makes contact with the firstmentioned pivotedlever 20 to raise the feeder I2.

The quadrant lever 24 meshes with a pinion 21 suitably pivoted upon said bracketIS and connected to a trapping and cuttingfinger 28 which is in its extreme outward position (Fig. 4) the trapper and cutter 33 (at the lower end of the finger) is heldopen and as the finger 28 swings inwards across the needle circle the plunger 3| is permitted to rise to close the trapper and. cutter about the. time that the finger passes over the eye I5 of the feeder I2. A further movement results inthe plunger3I riding freely over a pivoted latch 34, and when the finger swings'in the reverse direction, during the first part of its movement the plunger engages the pivoted latch and is depressed'to open the trapper and cutter.

The sequence of operations is as follows: When the feeder I2 is in its feeding position, inwhich it extends substantially horizontally from its pivot II towards the needles II the trapping and cutting finger 28 occupies its uppermost position in which it inclines downwards and outwards (at an angle at some 45 or other appropriate angle) and the trapper and cutter is open atthe front side of the needles. The yarn or thread runs downwards and outwards from the guiding eye I3 on the bracket IB, through the open trapper and cutter 33 to the feeder eye I5 and thence to the needles III as shown in Fig. 4. As the push rod 23 is raised its first effect is to swing the finger 28 towards the needles, whereby the finger draws a bight (as shown in dotted lines in Fig, '7), from the running thread, above the feeder I2 towards the needles I0. At approximately the instant in which the trapper and cutter 33 passes over the eye I5 of the feeder the plunger 3| reaches the step 29' in the curved cam track 29 and rises, so

that .thetrapper and cutter 33 closes to trap and cut the running thread at the yarn supply side of mc'nt of the finger 28 towards the centre'of the to theneedles, so wthattheloose end .iskn-itted in.

Immediately the trapper sand cutter 33, in :its swing, passes 013616818 the :innerrend of the feeder i2-the latter proceeds to riseto a position.

Throughout the period during which the thread is held withdrawn the trapper and cutter .33 occupies its position at the inside of the needle circle, the withdrawn thread extends above the needle heads from the guiding eye to the trapper which is at the back of the needles, and the feeder occupies its raised non-feeding position outside the needle circle. To re-introducethe threadthe push rod descends, Fig. 6. This simuL- taneously produces ithefidescent oi the feeder l2 and an outward swing of the trapping and cuttingifinger 28 under the action of suitably disposedsprings. -Asthe feeder-descends the thread extending betweenuthe guiding :eye 13 and the trapper and cutter 33 passes into the mouth of the slot i6 inthe feeder, and thence through the slot into the feeder eye 15. At this stage the yarn extends downwards from the guiding eye-Wtothe descending feeder eye I 5, and thence upwardsandbetweenthe needles 10 to the trapper 33. At or about this time the feeder reaches its feeding position; Fig. 7, the trapping and cutting finger 2.8 is approaching the needles, the

plunger 3! rides up the before-mentioned latch 34 (which latch is formed with an ,inturnedface) and the trapper and cutter 33 opens to release the end of thethread to the needles. This free end is therefore knitted up by the needles. The distance between the end 'of the feeder eye [5 and the knocking-over point K0. is substanwards still further .un-tilflit reachestheextremity of its travel, in whichtthe trapper and cutter (maintained in the open position by virtue of the-associatedplunger riding up the step 29 in the cam track) is located between the guidin eye I3 and the eye lfiwofi the feeder. As the open trapper and cutter reaches this attitude, the running thread slips into it, Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. .9, the cutter consists of a fixed cutting edge 33:: on thesleeve 30 anda shoulder 3311 on the plunger 3i :and movable away from the fixed edge 33a when the plunger 3.! is depressed,-to leave an opening the length of which is substantially normal to the plunger and the running thread. The trapper consists of suitable thread-gripping surfaces .330 and 33d associated with the sleeve and the plunger, and

thewplunger end 3i is so chamfered that as.

theopen trapper and, cutter moves to the attitude just mentioned, it brushes past the running thread which then springs into the said openin a l l 0 In order to provide for yarn changing, there maybe a plurality of trapping and cutting fingers and one or morefeeders, said fingers being movable to bring any selected one of them into association with a feeder; For example there non-feedin may ubeonelfeeder and aplurality of fingers each with a. trapper and cutter, the inoperativetrappers and cutters are located inside the needle.

circle, the trapped threads extending one to each, and the selected trapper and cutter being located outside the needle circle. In making a yarn exchange, this trapper and cutter isswung to thewinside of the needle circle t0 trap and cut the withdrawn yarn, the fingers areshogged tobring another one of them into the appropriate position, and the selected finger is swung outwards asbeforedescribed. l i

Alternatively, there may be a finger for each of a plurality of interchangeable feeders.

Figs. 10-18 show .a further construction ac- S running from theleye to the needles l0 and movable to the inside of theneedlecircle to reintroduce the yarn between the needles. Pivoted on the feeder spindle 42 of thelatch ring bracket there is at least one feeder 43 (such as that shown in'Fig. 11 for feedirigthe main yarn G,

and movable in known manner) together with a, spring biased leverM which serves to move the trapper and cutter. The latter is secured to the lower end of the ,slide 45 (adjustable for length) which slides through a pivoted guide 46 and at its upper end is adjustably pivoted to craiikarm 41 connected to a. pinion 48. This pinion 4-8 meshes with vertical slidable rack 49 7 arranged to beilifted against the action of a tensionflspring 50 when the lever is rocked by a thrust rod 5i. Normally theutrapper and cutterM is locatedyatvtheinsideof the needle circle;

When it is desired wimp andecut the additional yarn S, thrust :bar Bil rises and thereby causes the trapper and cuttertdmove over the heads ,of the, needles inthe approximatepath shown in Fig. 10 to a position :at' the outside ofSthe needle circle wherein the yarn enters thetrapper and cutter. Further upward movement of the thrust-bar 5| lowers the'trapper ianclgcutter so that therunning yarn enters it, andwhile still running to theneedles in correct knitting relatiori the yarn is out between the eye 40 and the needles and quite close to the latter. The cut end is trapped and thelooseend knitted up because the feeder eye 40 remains in feeding position. When thethrust bar 5! is lowered the spring 50 lowers the rack Hand theltrapperiand slide 5 and a movable blade 53 pivoted to it at 54, the said movable blade having a cam 55 at its upper end, which when the trapper and cutter is lloweredat theoutside'of the needle circle engages-an adjustablestationarymstop 56so as to close the blades. When closed the blades are locked by means of a tappet pivoted to the fixed blade .52 at 58. This ,tappet 51 has alstrip 59 depending from it which,:in thelocking position movesiacross theblade 53 as shown in Fig.

12, and holds the latter closed. Thiszlocking movement is produced by the n engagement of 1 an arm 51a on the tappet with an adjustable fixed stop .60 at the outside of the needle circle when the trapper and cutter is lowered at said outside. Conversely whenthe trapper and cutter 4| is lowered at theinside of the needle circle another arm 5Ib on the tappet engages an adjustable fixed stop GI and rocks said tappet to the opening position as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the'blade53 being opened by a spring 02 and its movement being limited by a=stop 63 against which that part of the blade 52 which extends above the blade 54 moves. To trap the yarn there is a groove 53' extending downthe face of the blade 53 with which a spring. wire 64 normally inclined away from said groove as shown in Fig. co-operates. When the blades close this spring wire 64 is pressed towards the groove 53' by a leaf spring 65 carried by the blade 52. Cutting is effected by edges 52a, 53a on the two blades. l

Figs. 19-23 show a construction in which the yarn is fed to the needles I0, in the correct knitting relation thereto, through a stationary eye I0 but is positioned for engagement by the trapper and cutter indicated generally at H by a movable yarn feeding eye 12, said trapper and cutter being movable to the. outside of the needlecircle to trap and out the yarn running to the needles and movable .across to the inside of the needle circle to introduce the trapped and cut yarn to the needles. While the yarn is being knitted the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 19 wherein the eye IZis lowered closely behind the eye 10 and the trapper and cutter II is inside the needle circle. The said trapper and cutter is carried by one'arm 13a of a bell-cranklever the other arm 13b of which overlies the upper end of a plungerna' carrying the eye I2, said plunger being guided in bracket I4. The bell-crank-lever is connected to a pinion I5 which meshes with a rack I6 drawn by a spring 'II against the upper end of thrust rod 18. When the thrust rod is raised from the position shown in Fig. 19 the trapper and cutter H swings across to the outside of the needle circle and the plunger 12a is raised by spring I0 so as to present a straight length of .yarn extending rearwardly from eye I0 to enter said trapper and cutter. The trapper and cutter then closes to cut the running yarn and to trap the severed end, the

- loose end of the yarn being knitted up by the needles because the eye I0 remains in feeding position. To re-introduce thecut end of yarn the thrust rod I8 descends and, under the influence of spring 11, the trapper and cutter H moves to the inside of the needle circle and the eye I2 descends behind the eye 10. This causes a straight length of yarn extending between eye I2 and trapper and cutter II to enter the eye I0, Figure 27, which is provided with a lateral opening for this purpose, and also to enter between the needles as shown in Fig. 19. The trapper and cutter II then opens to release the end of yarn which is knitted up by the needles. A suitable construction of trapper and cutter H is shown in more detail in Figs. 21-23. It consists of an inner sleeve or spindle 80 with a cleft 8| and an outer sleeve 82 which is revolvable on the sleeve 80 and is provided with a cleft 83. Projecting from the outer sleeve 82 there is a pin 84. When the trapper and cutter H moves away from the position shown in Fig. 19 the two clefts are in register so that the yarn passes into them,

but on reaching the position shown in Fig.

arm 84 makes contact with a fixed stop 85 and rotates the outer sleeve 82-so that an edge 83a of the cleft 83 cuts the yarn and that lengthof yarn which extends from the trapperand cutter.

H to the eye I2.is trapped between thetwo sleeves as shown in Fig. 23. In the final stage thereto, through an eye 10 shown in elevationin' Fig. 27. When it is desired to trap and out said yarn that part of it which runs from eye 9| to the eye 1'0 is engaged by a pusherv 8! which car lies a bight of it across the needle circle above the headsof the needles I0- and positions it so as to enter the descending trapperand cutter 'H which is then closed by astop 88. The yarn is thus cut and trapped, and the cut end'is knitted in. When it is desired to re-introduce the trapped end of yarn the trapper and cutter is lowered still further. This movement carries the yarn between the needles and also into the eye I0,so as to'be thereafter fed by it to the needlesin the correct knitting relation, and in the final stages of the said movementthe trapper and cutter is opened by stop 89. Subsequently, the trapper and cutter must be raised to its upper position, in the course of which movement it passes and is closed by the stop 88. Therefore, an upper stop Sllis provided to re-open' the trapper and cutter and to again descend and take the yarn. I a I In the construction shown in Figs. 28 and 29 the trapper'IH (which may in general be similar to the trapper and cutter H illustrated in Figs. 21-23 except in that the cutting edge is omitted) is separate from the cutter which is hereinafter described. The said trapper is'mounted on a rod 92 slidably depending at its upper end from a sleeve 93 pivoted at 94 to a stationary part of the machine secured to the latch ring bracket 35. The said rod 92 is provided'with a pin 95 which travels in a horse-shoe shaped cam track 96 on said stationary part, and also travels along a slot 91 in a crank arm 98 connected to pinion 99. The latter is engaged by a rack I00 pressed blades I 03, I 04, and over the corner of the throat 35' (which corner decides the feedingangle of the yarn and may therefore be considered as a feeder) to the needles. When it is desired to trap and cut the yarn S the thrust bar I02 i lowered so that the trapper I'H descends at the outside of the needle between the feeder I08 and the cutter I03, I0 1. The runningyarn'therefore enters the open trapper, the pin I01 presses on the plunger I06 and closes the cutter to cut the yarn while it is still running over the throat in the correct knitting relation to the needles, and at or about the same time a pin I84 projecting from the trapper engages a fixed stop I so that the trapper is .closed to trap the cut end. The loose end is knitted up because the eye I08 and theaforesaid-comer of the, thread 35 are immovable in feedingposition. In order to re-introduce the yarn to the needles the thrust rodl02 is raised,

' needles. In the final stages of the descent of the trapper the pin I84, makes contact with atstationary stop I86 and'th'e'trapper'is: opened to release the :yarn end. If desired the feeder 108 may trapper and for re-introducing the; yarntoqthe feeder andto position itfor reintroduction to the be raisedlor' lowered to'assist-in positioningthe yarn accurately, particularly in its re-introductiontotheneedles. .1 1, I t 1 We olefin? Y 1. In the production of fabric on anfindependent needle'knittingfi machine,'l feeding a knitting thread and an additional'rthread and while said additional thread is still running to and being knitted by the needles, severing it so that all the thread extending from the point of severance to the needles is knitted in, and re-introduclng a thread with a free end extending beyond the point of introduction which free end is of such a length that the needles in descending to knit absorb or draw in such length and knit it.

2. In the production of knitted fabric on an independent needle knitting machine, the steps of severing a yarn close to the needles while it is still running to and being knitted by them and trapping the severed end and knittin up the loose end, introducing the trapped yarn to the needles by lowering it between them and substantially simultaneously releasing the severed end, and knitting up said yarn end.

3. In or for an independent needle knitting machine, the combinationvof a yarn feeder for feeding a yarn to the needles, a trapper and cutter for cutting the fed yarn and for trapping the cut end, means for eifecting'such relative movement between the yarn running to 'the'needles and the trapper and cutter as will bring the yarn into the trapper and cutter while it is still being knitted, means for operating thetrapper, and cutter to cut the running yarn and to trap the cut end, means for effecting such relativemovement between the yarn and the trapper as brings the yarn across the needle line and between the needles so as to be taken thereby, and means for opening the trapper to release said yarn.

l. Mechanism according to claimr3, having means for moving the trapper from one side to the other of the line of needles, to trap the cut yarn when at the front of the needles and to release the trapped yarn when at the back of the needles.

5. Mechanism according to claim 3, wherein n the cutter cuts the yarn before it reaches the feeder, the loose end being drawn out of the feeder by the needles, and means are provided for re-threading the yarn in the feeder.

6. Mechanism according to claim 3, having means for operating the cutter to cut the yarn before it reaches the feeder so that the loose end is drawn out of theifeeder bythe needles, means for re-threading the yarn in the feeder, and movable means for engaging the yarn extending to the trapper and for positioning said yarn for reintroduction to the needles. p t

7. Mechanism according to claim 3, having means for operating the cutter to cut the yarn as it runs to the feeder so that the loose end is drawn out of the feeder by the needles, and movneedles. I

8. For an independent needle knitting machine, the combination of a yarn feeder for feeding a yarnto the needles, tobeknitted thereby, a cutter for cutting the yarn between the feeder and the needles, a trapper for trapping the cut end, means for effecting such relative movement between the yarn running to theneedlesand the trapper and cutter as will bl'lnglt into: the trapper and cutter while it is stilljbeing knitted,

means for operating the trapper and: cutter to cut therunning yarn and to trap the cut end, means for effecting such relative movement; be-

tween theyarn and the trapper as brings the yarn across thetneedle line andbetween the needlesso as to be: taken thereby, andmeansfor opening the trapper to release said yarn.

9. Mechanism according to claim 8, having operating means for causing-the trapper to step over the heads of the needles from a lowered trapping position at the front to a lowered release position at the back of said needles.

10. In an independent needle knitting machine,

the combination of a yarn feeder for feeding a yarn to the needles to be knitted thereby, a displaceable trapper and cutter for cutting the fed yarn and for trapping the cut end, means for displacing the trapper and cutter in relation to the yarn running to the needles so as to receive said running yarn while the latter is still being knitted, means for operating the trapper and cutter to cut the running yarn and to trap the cut end, means for displacing the trapper and cutter and for thereby bringing the trapped end across the needle line and between the needles so as to be taken thereby, and means for releasing said yarn from the trapper.

11. Mechanism according to claim 3, having the cutter permanently located at the front side of the needles. I

I2. Mechanism according to claim 3, having a stationary cutter permanently located at the front side of the needles at a location wherein the yarn, while being fed, runs through it. a t l 13. In or for an independent needle knitting machine, the combination of a movable yarn feeder having an open eyefor feeding yarn to the needles, a trapper and cutter for cutting the yarn and for trapping the cut end, operating means for moving the trapper and cutter outwards across the line of needles to engage the yarn running to the feeder and to cut and trap it and for moving said trapper and cutter inwards across the line of needles to carry the trapped end to the back of the needle line and then to release said trapped end, and means for raising and lowering the feeder before said release to engage the yarn, extending to the trapper, in the feeder eye and to carry said yarn down between the needles.

14. In or for an independent needle knitting machine, the combination of a stationary yarn feeder having an open eye for feeding yarn to the needles, a trapper and cutter displaceable between a trapping and cutting position in which it cuts and traps the yarn running to the needles and a release position at the back of the line of needles wherein it releases the trapped yarn, operating means for said trapper and cutter, a yarn-engaging device, a means for moving it to position the yarn, running to the feeder, to be able yarn-engaging means separate from the feeder for engaging the yarn extending to the cut and trapped by the trapper and cutter and also to position the yarn, extending to the trapper and cutter when the latter is-in the release position, for introduction to the needles and to the open eye about the time of release.

15. In or for an independent needle knitting machine, the combination of a feeder for feeding yarn to the needles, a cutter for cutting said yarn between the feeder and the needles, a trapper for trapping the cut end, means for causing the trapper to step over the heads of the needles between a trapping position at the front of the needles wherein it traps the cut end and a lowered release position at the back of the needles wherein it releases the trapped end, and means for operating the trapper to trap and release in its respective positions.

1=6. Mechanism according to claim 13, comprising a common operating member movable in one direction for first moving the trapper and cutter inwards across the needle lineandfor then raising the movable-feeder, and movable in the reverse direction for lowering the'feeder and for moving the trapper and cutter outward's'across theneedle line. x y .7 :3.

1'7. For an independent needle knitting machine, the combination of feeding means for guiding a knitting yarn to the needles in knittin relation thereto a cutter 'for. cutting the (yarn while still running in said knitting relation to the needles, a trapper forreceiving the uncut yarn and for trapping the cut end, and means for introducing the yarn, extending. to the. trapper, across the line of needles so 'astov beztakentby the needles and fed in knitting relationiby the feeding means.

RALPH NORMAN Tobm THOMAS LAWRENCEALLEN. 

